Press Review

“There is no judge in Armenia who is not corrupt and who does not execute government orders if need be,” editorializes “Aravot.” “That is certainly an axiom. Those two features of our judges are definitely interrelated. They are allowed to ‘eat’ from non-political cases so that they become vulnerable and tame in political cases.” The paper says it is therefore meaningless to demand the change of the controversial judge in the unfolding trial of opposition leader and editor Nikol Pashinian.

“Kapital” comments on the growing marriages between children of senior government officials and wealthy businessmen that are accompanied by extravagant wedding parties. “Armenia’s future government system must be solely family-based and must replace the rule of law by the rule of families,” the paper editorializes scathingly. It says the ruling “clan” is trying to make sure that the country is controlled by a single extended family armed with wide-ranging levers.

“Why should Turkey not ratify the Turkish-Armenian agreements?” writes Lragir.am. “Just because Karabakh is not Azerbaijan’s or because the territories have not been returned to Azerbaijan? Why would Turkey abandon a wonderful document like the Turkish-Armenian protocols, the signing of which effectively frees Turkey of the Armenian Question, for such a petty reason? Turkey doesn’t care who controls Karabakh. After all, Turkey is now waging a fight for the Caucasus, which has always been hindered by the Armenian Question.” The online paper downplays Azerbaijan’s angry reaction to the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. “In no other country can Azerbaijan find what it will find in Turkey,” it says.

“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” says the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) are not joining forces because they pursue different goals. “The Congress, for example, demands the authorities’ resignation, while Dashnaktsutyun demands anything but that,” explains the paper. “How can Levon Ter-Petrosian now come out and demand Edik Nalbandian’s resignation?” It says one of the reasons why Dashnaktsutyun opposes regime change is that none of its leaders would stand no chance of winning a snap presidential election.